“They’ll pay $100 for the booze, but not 5 cents for the bag.”

Other critics say that in difficult economic times, any tax is unfair to poor people and could cost jobs in the plastic business. But many people still support the tax.

“It’s easier.”

“I carry my own bags.”

“I mean… I don’t have to pay for it.”

“I just bring my own since I have them.”

“It’s free!”

“Everybody brings their own bags now.”

But supporters of the tax, like Brent Bolin and Tommy Wells, say reducing the use of plastic bags is the only way to stop them from polluting the environment.

“You can’t keep pulling trash out of the river forever.”

“Our city is so much more beautiful now that we don’t have these bags blowing in our trees and our environment.”

There is still much work to be done to clean up the nation’s capital and the Anacostia River. But change is taking place -- five cents at a time.